Cambridge IELTS 16 · General Training · Test 1 · Section 1
Helping Pupils To Choose Optional Subjects When They’re Aged 14-15 & It’s Almost Time For The Next Ripton Festival! — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for Helping Pupils To Choose Optional Subjects When They’re Aged 14-15 & It’s Almost Time For The Next Ripton Festival!, Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Reading Test 1 Section 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Helping Pupils To Choose Optional Subjects When They’re Aged 14-15 & It’s Almost Time For The Next Ripton Festival! answer key at a glance
Questions 1–14. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with Matching Information (Q1–6), True / False / Not Given (Q7–14). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–6: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
This pupil is interested in the subject despite the way it is taught.
“I find it fascinating. I'm studying it at school, and the teacher is very knowledgeable, though I think we spend too much time listening to her”
Option D: the pupil calls the subject 'fascinating' but adds 'we spend too much time listening to her', so interest survives poor teaching.
This pupil is hoping to have a career that makes use of the subject.
“It's made me understand much more about politics, for instance. My plan is to study history at university, and maybe go into the diplomatic service, so I can apply a knowledge of history”
Option B: the pupil plans to 'study history at university' and enter 'the diplomatic service', a career using the subject.
This pupil finds the subject harder than they expected.
“I began when I was about eight, so when I started doing it at school, I didn't think I'd have any problem with it, but I was quite wrong”
Option C: expecting no difficulty, the pupil says 'I was quite wrong', so the subject proved harder than anticipated.
This pupil finds the lessons very entertaining.
“I needn't have worried, though - our teacher gets us to do lots of fun things, so there's no risk of getting bored”
Option E: lessons involve 'lots of fun things, so there's no risk of getting bored', which is the entertainment described.
This pupil appreciates the benefit of doing challenging work.
“Mr Peckham really pushes us, and offers us extra assignments, to help us improve”
Option A: 'Mr Peckham really pushes us' and sets extra assignments 'to help us improve', a pupil valuing challenge.
This pupil has realised the connection between two things.
“It's fascinating to see how what we learn about the past is relevant to what's going on in the world now”
Option B: the pupil links past and present, seeing 'how what we learn about the past is relevant to what's going on in the world now'.
Questions 7–14: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
The festival is held every year.
“As usual, the festival will be held in the last weekend of June”
TRUE: 'as usual, the festival will be held in the last weekend of June', showing it recurs annually.
This year’s festival focuses on the town’s history.
“The theme is Ripton through the ages. Scenes will be acted out showing how the town has developed since it was first established”
TRUE: the theme 'Ripton through the ages' and scenes showing how the town 'has developed' confirm a focus on local history.
Goods displayed in the craft fair are unlike ones found in shops.
“Come and meet professional artists, designers and craftsmen and women, who will display their jewellery, paintings, ceramics, and much more”
NOT GIVEN: the craft fair lists jewellery, paintings and ceramics, but never compares these goods with items sold in shops.
The barbecue will be cancelled if it rains.
“The barbecue will be held in Palmer's Field, or in the town hall if there's rain”
FALSE: rain moves the barbecue into the town hall rather than cancelling it, so wet weather does not stop the event.
Adults can attend the barbecue at any time without charge.
“Entry for under 16s is free all day; adults can come for free until 6 pm and pay £5 after that”
FALSE: adults enter free only 'until 6 pm and pay £5 after that', so entry is not free at any time.
Amateur musicians will perform during the whole of the barbecue.
“There'll be live music throughout, with local amateur bands in the afternoon and professional musicians in the evening”
FALSE: amateur bands play 'in the afternoon' while professionals perform 'in the evening', so amateurs do not cover the whole event.
Seating is available for watching the boat races.
“The spectator area by the bridge has plenty of room to stand and cheer the boats home, in addition to a number of benches”
TRUE: the spectator area has 'a number of benches', so seating is available for watching the boat races.
People attending the festival will be asked to donate some money.
“All money raised by the festival will go to support the sports clubs in Ripton”
NOT GIVEN: the text says money raised goes to sports clubs, but never says visitors are asked to donate.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Helping Pupils To Choose Optional Subjects When They’re Aged 14-15 & It’s Almost Time For The Next Ripton Festival! passage come from?
It is Section 1 of Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Reading Test 1, and it covers Questions 1–14.
What question types appear in Helping Pupils To Choose Optional Subjects When They’re Aged 14-15 & It’s Almost Time For The Next Ripton Festival!?
The section is tested with Matching Information, True / False / Not Given. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.